OnSite Classes Your Location
Classes at our Location
Book a Class
Like Us On Facebook

Open Class Policies

We do not issue refunds. If you need to cancel or don’t attend the course, you will forfeit your payment.
To reschedule*, you must email us at, ben@gacpr.com, prior to the start of the CPR class. You may only reschedule once.

LATE POLICY

AHA requires students to attend the entire class and to respect timely students, no late admittance allowed. You must make a request to reschedule in writing. A $25 rescheduling fee applies.* To reschedule see fee details.

Thank you for choosing Georgia CPR for your CPR certification needs!

*Fees apply. – A $25 fee applies if you reschedule within 7 days of the class. – A $10 fee applies if you reschedule at least 7 days before the class.

Latest Post

  • February 25, 2015
  • By cpr_ben

SIDS Prevention (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

SIDS PreventionI have been a parent now for 8 years, and I can now finally address SIDS as a topic. I realize my delay in writing about SIDS has to do with a discomfort with the topic as it is scary for any parent. I am fortunate not to have had an experience with the topic. Unfortunately, many tragic infant deaths do occur and to those parents, my heart goes out. As a CPR Class instructor, I think everyone should know about SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and be familiar with a few tips that have been shown to greatly decrease it’s incidence.

SIDS, or crib death, takes about 4,000 sweet infants per year in the United States alone.  While we do have ideas, there are no clear answers as to why SIDS occurs. SIDS is the sudden and unexplained death of an infant who is under 1 year of age. Usually SIDS happens during sleep, without warning and to otherwise healthy babies.

There aren’t any single risk factors that would be enough on their own to cause a SIDS death. There are several risk factors that are associated with increased SIDS deaths – let’s eliminate them.

SIDS Risk Factors

Here are potential risk factors present in increased SIDS deaths:

  • Stomach sleeping
  • Smoking, drug use or drinking during pregnancy
  • Poor prenatal care
  • Overheating from blankets and pajamas
  • Tobacco smoke exposure to the child

Prevention

While the causes of SIDS isn’t fully confirmed scientifically, several preventative steps have been shown to greatly reduce risks of SIDS.

Here they are, explanations are below:

  • Babies should sleep on their backs
  • Babies should sleep on a firm bed, no toys, bedding or bumpers
  • No one should smoke around your baby
  • Baby should sleep in your room, but in their own crib
  • Breastfeed as long as you can
  • Prevent overheating
  • Have air movement (fan) in the baby’s room while sleeping.

Back Sleeping

The greatest decrease in SIDS has happened since 1992, when a campaign started, encouraging parents to put their babies “Back to Sleep”, or having their babies sleep on their backs and not on their stomachs.

This step plays the greatest role in preventing SIDS, and no one is sure why that is.

One idea is that when babies sleep on their stomachs, pressure is put  on the jaw, making the airway smaller.

Another theory has to do with the increased potential of carbon dioxide buildup as the baby’s mouth is lower closer to bedding where it can pool. Soft bedding combined with stomach sleeping could create a place for trapped carbon dioxide to accumulate. This is particularly possible when toys, bedding or a pillow is near the babies face.

Firm Bedding, No Obstructions

Firm bedding is recommended to prevent indentions that can trap carbon dioxide, or restrict movement of air around the baby. No bedding, bumpers or toys should be in the bed with a baby for the same reasons.

Smoke Free Environment

Smoking during pregnancy and second hand smoke exposure has been shown to triple the risk of a SIDS death. An overwhelming number of studies support keeping babies away from smoke in all instances.

Keep Baby In Your Room, But Not In Your Bed

Studies show that babies who sleep in the same room as their mother, have less incidence of SIDS. The causality of this risk reducing step isn’t known. It is important to know that while having them in your room is good, having them in your bed or a bed with another person increases the risk of SIDS.

Breastfeeding Reduces SIDS

In other scientific studies, researchers have shown that breastfeeding your baby can reduce the risk of SIDS by about 50%. They aren’t sure why.

Prevent Overheating

Keeping a room warm enough for an adult to be comfortable in a short sleeve shirt is recommended. It is recommended against any blankets being in the bed, or keeping the baby dressed in heavy pajamas.

Consider A Fan In Baby’s Room

In 2008, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study that indicated fan use during sleep reduced SIDS risk by 72% (Coleman-Phox, Odouli, Li).

While fan use should never take the place of putting a baby to sleep on their backs, the inclusion of a fan, or airflow in the baby’s room can further reduce SIDS risk.

While SIDS remains the leading cause of death for infants in the United States, many steps listed above can greatly reduce this risk. Risk reduction steps should be the mainstay of information given to new parents and caretakers alike.